Brand New Day

Yowza, Yowza, Yowza

The other morning the windows were open and I heard the chickens cackling in the back yard.  They typically cackle when they lay an egg and on this particular morning they were taking turns going in and out of the laying box to lay. 

I about jumped out of my skin when I heard the loudest, well, I won't call it a cackle since a cackle sounds like a fun noise.  This was a SCREAM.  And she screamed and screamed.  And then all was well.  And then the girls went to gather the eggs for the day.  And...well...um...

I...am...speechless...

Grade A

                   

I found an egg yesterday!  In our chicken coop!  In the "brooding area" that Nav. man incorporated into the coop he made!  I don't know when it happened, so I don't know if it has been laying out there for several hours or several days, so...this one will not be eaten.  I'm just so excited and I hugged my little pullets and gave them a high five with my "wing" and told those girls to keep up the good work.  Did I tell you I found an egg???!  This is HUGE!  Everyday will be like Easter around here--on the hunt for eggs.

Now I know the answer to that whole "which came first" thingy--first comes the chicken...then comes the egg!

Chicken Shennanigans

                            

We decided to move the chicken coop under the big ash tree in the front yard.  Me, being sensitive to the thoughts/needs of chickens, decided that they were not coming out of their coop as much as they should because of too much sunlight.  B. and G. decided that they would move the coop and then "herd" them across the driveway and down to their new digs.  This is how it went down.

                           

The chicks came to the edge of the grass and then stopped dead in their tracks--they would not set one foot on the gravel driveway.  The chicken handlers would herd them over to the road, but then nothing.  When forced to make a decision, some of them flapped their wings and tried to fly over the gravel.

                             

These chicks were picked up and carried across the road and then decided that they liked playing among the flowers I'd just planted.  The two Barr Rocks, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, do not like to be handled, however, so they just had to be caught, grabbed and carried across kicking and screaming. 

Let me tell you, there's never a dull moment here in America's breadbasket, the exciting midwest, the "Heart of it all" (Ohio's mantra.)  B. and G. decided that the old question "why did the chicken cross the road" is moot as their gen-teel chicks are way too contrary to even try!

             

That Awkward Stage

                 

I know that this chicken looks a little odd and awkward right now.  She has this molting thing going on around her face and neck and this eye looks strangely like a dinosaur eye.  Her comb is only starting to come in and looks a little scruff.  The fact of the matter is, I still think she's beautiful. 

I'm thinking this is like the "teen" stages for these hens.  You know, that awkward ugly duckling age (not that teens are ugly ducklings) that precedes the beautiful woman that lies within.  Think of this hen as only going through that braces, pimples, and glasses time that gently (or not so gently) gives way to womanhood!   There--does that help?

Le Petite Chateau Bleu

                                      

Navigator Guy (he doesn't like his new moniker) finished the chicken "run" this evening so we had to try it out.  Keep in mind that the chicken coup has been in the garage for 4 weeks now.  We are ready to reclaim our space and our chicks have only seen muted sunshine, so they and we are ready.  We butted the run up against the coup and watched the fun unfold.  They were like children--timid and frightened of this adventure.  They lined up at the door and then the pushing began.  As soon as one or two were pushed out, they'd jump back into the coup and then turn around again.  Only 4 or 5 would venture out today (there are 7 total.) 

The coup is back in the garage tonight (notice the built in handles on the sides of the house so that two people can pick it up and move it) and we will get them out again tomorrow when it warms up. 

This whole chicken thing has been really fun so far.  The big pay-off will be when we start getting eggs this fall!

p.s.  We were thinking of these expressions today that have to do with chickens--they take on new meaning now--"flew the coup," "hen-pecked," "pecking order," and "go to bed with the chickens" (and they really do go to bed when the sun goes down)  See how we have to entertain ourselves here in the (boring) Midwest?  (I did NOT just call the Midwest boring!!!)

Ms. Bess Truman

                                 

The chicks turned 3 weeks old this week and they're strangely enough, getting little personalities.  This is B's chick--Bess Truman.  Since they've been in their garage coup under their brood lamp, the 7 of them have lived, loved, pecked  and maybe laughed? together.  Today, Bess Truman had her first taste of life on the "outside"--a life they will hopefully enjoy here in a few weeks when the nighttime temps. are warmer and they're completely feathered out.  Anyhow, this particular chick runs right to her Mommy when the coup door is opened and practically leaps into her hands.  She likes to be held and petted--who knew?

 

                                 

Two cool chicks

                                       

Wednesday is G's piano lesson day.  She is getting ready for a JME evaluation in a few weeks and Ms. Walsh is making sure that she is perfecting the pieces that she will be playing.  She's been taking lessons for almost 6 years now.

                                       

And now an introduction--Anna Coolidge wearing her inaugural feather dress and matching feather boa.  Mamie Eisenhower, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman and Lady "Bird" Johnson will be making their pictorial debut a little later.

give me some of that chicken love

                                                      

These chicks are just too darn cute and no, we will NOT be eating any of our chicks--they will be strictly egg producers/pets.  This little golden comet is G's chick and 4-H project.

Octomom...almost

We got chicks yesterday--I ordered 8, but got home and found out they'd only given me 7.  They're fuzzy and so cute and in the process of being named.